Im thinking about building a good berm to shoot into on my farm, any tips?
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chris in va said:
chris in va said:And bullets never go over the berm.
You may have the luxury of abiding by your personal safety regulations; many of us here do not.
None of the ranges I frequent on a weekly basis meet your 2-3 miles criteria - that includes a private, NRA afiliated club.
In fact, I would wager most small arms ranges (military included) fail your saftey test.
If you know of any 5,760 acre ranges in Ohio, let me know.
shevrock
Member
I have a small question [and do not wish to hijack this thread]. Would it be a bad idea to set up at the top of a ravine, and shoot at the other top of the ravine[ that's higher of course]. because my property's almost all ravines. I was thinking about setting up something permanent at the bottom of one of the ravines, but their would be to many trees to cut away. And it's a bit of a walk to the bottom. 
larry_minn
Member
There are lots of factors. (I just read first half dozen replies) Get rid of rock on face side. The type of weapons you plan to fire and WHO is going to be shooting will decide how extensive the berms/safety must be. For myself shooting pistol a 5' tall by 8' long berm is enough. (I orig used a old chest freezer full of dirt) but didn't feel that was enough for "much" rifle rds. (plus I have 3/4 mile to first place with people anywhere downrange) I am shooting from a rise into a depression (that is thankfully tiled) with a second hill behind (and then a swamp) This is NOT good enough if you invite others over to shoot often.
IMO the neatest thing I have seen is blocks of rubber. (wild guess 2'x2'x 4') You just stack them up and stick targets on them. Rotate them every so often and when they weigh5x more then at start "recycle" them.
You have got me thinking I should upgrade my backstop...
shevrock asked
....]. Would it be a bad idea to set up at the top of a ravine, and shoot at the other top of the ravine[ that's higher of course]. because my property's almost all ravines. I was thinking about setting up something permanent at the bottom of one of the ravines, but their would be to many trees to cut away. And it's a bit of a walk to the bottom.
Shooting across a ravine (that you know is not being walked by people) should be ok. The question I would have is what is your backstop? (thinking if you are shotting at top any miss (or even hit) will continue for miles..) Could you maybe put target 20' BELOW top of ravine? (my having no scale for how large/deep/tall stuff is) and is ravine sides dirt/rock/gold? How far between shooting point/target area? Rifle/pistol/shotgun/ pulse laser rifle in 40 megawatt....
IMO the neatest thing I have seen is blocks of rubber. (wild guess 2'x2'x 4') You just stack them up and stick targets on them. Rotate them every so often and when they weigh5x more then at start "recycle" them.
You have got me thinking I should upgrade my backstop...
shevrock asked
....]. Would it be a bad idea to set up at the top of a ravine, and shoot at the other top of the ravine[ that's higher of course]. because my property's almost all ravines. I was thinking about setting up something permanent at the bottom of one of the ravines, but their would be to many trees to cut away. And it's a bit of a walk to the bottom.
Shooting across a ravine (that you know is not being walked by people) should be ok. The question I would have is what is your backstop? (thinking if you are shotting at top any miss (or even hit) will continue for miles..) Could you maybe put target 20' BELOW top of ravine? (my having no scale for how large/deep/tall stuff is) and is ravine sides dirt/rock/gold? How far between shooting point/target area? Rifle/pistol/shotgun/ pulse laser rifle in 40 megawatt....
Ivy Mike
Member
chris in va, do you realize that most safe discharge laws are well under the 2-3 mile limit you're proposing?
Don Gwinn
Moderator Emeritus
Firing downward does make a difference. When a moron built a fancy house on a hilltop that could be seen over the top of our berm on a clear winter day, the club not only increased the size of the 200-yard berm, but also built a ridge at the firing line. Shooters on the 200-yard line are about 15 feet higher than those on the pistol range, firing down at the base of a very tall berm.
It didn't stop him from claiming that he found bullets in his exterior walls, but since he showed the sheriff's deputies loaded cartridges, they were skeptical.
It didn't stop him from claiming that he found bullets in his exterior walls, but since he showed the sheriff's deputies loaded cartridges, they were skeptical.
Stevie-Ray
Member
Hahahahaha!
Score one for the good guys!
1st post
First off hello THR (1st post)...second, here's the family range in Indiana. There are about 20 ton of sand that were filled in to the front after these pics were taken. Total height after we topped it off is about 7-8ft. I think we used almost 100 8-10ft railroad ties. Took my father, uncle, and I about a month. When the corn is down we get out about 200yds. Thru the summer the cornfield has use hemmed in to only about 60-80yds. There are several hundred feet of woods beyond the backstop and no properties beyond for about 2 miles (2 county road intersections anyway).
K-
First off hello THR (1st post)...second, here's the family range in Indiana. There are about 20 ton of sand that were filled in to the front after these pics were taken. Total height after we topped it off is about 7-8ft. I think we used almost 100 8-10ft railroad ties. Took my father, uncle, and I about a month. When the corn is down we get out about 200yds. Thru the summer the cornfield has use hemmed in to only about 60-80yds. There are several hundred feet of woods beyond the backstop and no properties beyond for about 2 miles (2 county road intersections anyway).
K-
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Stevie-Ray
Member
Welcome aboard matey! New guys have to invite the entire High Road complement to their ranges.
M2 Carbine
member
Come on down. I can set you up a cot in the barn if the cats don't mind.
I haven't instructed in years.
In the 60's and early 70's I was an instructor at the Army helicopter flight school, Mineral Wells, TX, and at the same time was moonlighting instructing fixed wing and helicopters for a civilian operator.
There were a lot of instructor and student fatalities in those days.
Another moonlighting instructor was killed in this bird.
I hate to think how much my flying worried my Wife.
Sorry about the hijack hobgob.
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